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Use RetroBeat on Linux ​

On Linux, RetroBeat builds its library from folders you choose, and it can stream music from WebDAV servers such as Nextcloud or a home NAS.

Add your music folders ​

  1. Start RetroBeat. The empty library says No music yet. Add a folder to build your library.

  2. Click Add folder and choose your music folder, for example ~/Music.

  3. RetroBeat scans the folder and every folder inside it, and fills the library.

To add more folders or remove one, open Settings > Folders. Removing a folder only takes it out of the library; your files stay where they are.

RetroBeat reads .mp3, .m4a, .aac, .flac, .wav, .ogg and .opus files, with their tags and embedded cover art.

What is different from Android ​

  • There is no equalizer and no Audio-reactive visualiser; those options are hidden.
  • There are no media keys or system media controls yet. Control playback in the RetroBeat window.
  • Retro mode and all its visualisations work.

Add a music server ​

A WebDAV server is a server that shares files over the web, such as Nextcloud, many NAS boxes, or tools like rclone and dufs.

  1. Open Settings > Servers and click Add server.

  2. Fill in the Server address, for example https://nas.local:5006/dav, your Username and your Password. Name is optional.

  3. Optional: under Advanced, set a Root path to start in a folder, and turn on Connect automatically to connect when RetroBeat starts.

  4. Click Test connection. When it says Connected successfully., click Save.

The server appears in the list with its status: Not connected, Connecting…, Connected or Connection failed. Use its menu to Connect, Disconnect, Edit or Remove it. You can be connected to several servers at once.

Your password is stored in your desktop's keyring (GNOME Keyring or KWallet), not in RetroBeat's own files.

WARNING

A server address that starts with http:// instead of https:// is not encrypted, and RetroBeat marks it Unencrypted. Anyone on the same network could read your password and music. Use http:// only on a home network you trust.

Browse and play from a server ​

Click a connected server to browse it. Click a folder to open it, and click a song to play it. The bar at the top shows where you are; click Root to go back to the start.

Copy or move files between servers ​

  1. In the server browser, click More (⋮) next to a file, or press and hold it.

  2. Choose Copy to… or Move to…, then pick the server and folder to send it to.

  3. Follow the progress under Transfers. Clear finished tidies the list.

A move is only finished once the copy has arrived and been checked. Only then does RetroBeat delete the original. If a move fails part way, the original stays where it was.

Next steps ​